The coronavirus that causes the respiratory disease COVID-19 is seen under an electron microscope. - File

The province has directed Nova Scotia’s 132 long-term-care homes to screen for the COVID-19 virus every day and to implement other measures to reduce the spread of the respiratory virus.

Chief medical officer Dr. Robert Strang announced the move at a COVID-19 update news conference Monday, when 31 more confirmed cases were announced, bringing the provincewide total to 293.

Licensed nursing homes and residential care facilities were ordered to screen staff and residents at least once a day for the illness, and twice a day if it’s operationally feasible. The screening would include taking their temperature and checking their general health. Any respiratory illness must be reported to public health.

“One single case is potentially an outbreak and that needs to be reported to public health,” Strang said, who later added that he expected COVID-19 cases to peak at the end of April in Nova Scotia.

Any new admissions to a facility will require health screening to ensure somebody hasn’t been potentially exposed to COVID-19 and if they have, steps will be taken to isolate them.

The directive also includes comprehensive guidelines on cleaning, physical distancing and other measures, said Strang, who was accompanied as usual by Premier Stephen McNeil at the news conference.

The move follows reports of COVID-19 cases at several nursing homes across the province.

A COVID-19 warning was issued Monday related to an event on March 11 at the Magnolia Continuing Care Community in Enfield.

The Nova Scotia Health Authority said people could have been exposed to the virus at a celebration of life event at"Public Health has been directly contacting anyone known to be in attendance at the service," the authority said in a news release Monday. "While most people have been contacted, there could be some attendees that Public Health is not aware of."

Anyone who attended would be just past the 14-day period where they should self-monitor for signs and symptoms of COVID-19.

"If you were at this on March 11 and you have developed any symptoms of COVID-19 since then, please call 811. This will help NSHA Public Health to identify any connected cases and will aid in containment efforts."

There already have been confirmed COVID-19 cases at the Magnolia. The most recent report said three staff members and two residents were ill.

Meanwhile another seniors' home reports that two staff members have been confirmed with COVID-19.

Northwood said one staff member works at their facility on Gottingen Street in Halifax and another with its home-care program.

"We are working with Public Health and the Department of Health and Wellness to complete contact tracing and ensure appropriate measures are put in place," Northwood said in an advisory on its website. "All known potential staff contacts have been notified and any potential resident contacts are being swabbed and will be on precautions and regularly monitored for symptoms."

Residents, clients and families of those affected are being contacted.

Among other new cases reported at seniors' facilities in the last two days are employees at Arborstone Enhanced Care in Halifax and Harris Hall in Dartmouth and an employee at the Aberdeen Hospital in New Glasgow, while some staff at the IWK Health Centre were given a notice “to alert them to a COVID-19 exposure” at the pediatric hospital.

Travel testing condition dropped

To date, Nova Scotia has tested 10,511 people for the respiratory virus, which has killed over 70,000 people worldwide.

The confirmed cases range in age from under ten to over 90. Ten people are currently in hospital while 64 have recovered.

At the news conference, Strang announced that travel has been removed as a condition for testing for COVID-19, reinforcing his previous appraisal that community spread of the virus is definitely occurring in Nova Scotia.

Starting Monday, anyone with a new or worsening cough and/or fever will be tested. A modified screening assessment has been added to the 811 site.

Strang also said he and other public health officers across Canada are recommending that people wear face masks in public, particularly in closer quarter situations such as grocery stores. The suggestion is based on the fact people can be contagious with the virus even though they don’t have any symptoms.

“We’re not saying that every Canadian has to but if Nova Scotians feel they want to do this, it is a small thing they can do to help protect themselves and others,” he said. “ Strang said, emphasizing that we’re talking about non-medical grade masks.

“It’s critically important that the supply of medical-grade masks is maintained for the health-care system and for other essential workers.”

Also at the news conference, the premier said money will not be flowing from previously announced financial support programs as early as he’d hoped.

“I’d hoped those programs would be ready for today,” said McNeil, referring to the $20-million small-business impact grant and the $20-million workers emergency bridge fund. “But it is our goal over the next week to have all of the applications up and going by April 10, this Friday.”